The Miami Heat have indefinitely suspended Jimmy Butler, which could indicate his final game with the team, as reported by ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania. According to Charania, “The Miami Heat are suspending Jimmy Butler indefinitely, sources tell ESPN. Jimmy Butler walked out of Heat shootaround this morning after being informed the team is planning not to start him — with Haywood Highsmith starting — moving forward, sources tell ESPN.”
This marks the third suspension for Butler by the Heat, amidst ongoing trade rumors surrounding his future with the team ahead of the NBA’s Feb. 6 trade deadline. His first suspension was for seven games due to conduct “detrimental to the team,” while his second was a two-game suspension for missing a flight.
As speculation builds, it appears Butler’s time with the Heat may be nearing its end. The Phoenix Suns remain the front-runner to acquire Butler, though the trade process is complicated by Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause. ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst shared that the Suns are “full-bore trying to figure out how to get Jimmy Butler” and are considering various multi-team trade scenarios. He added, “The big thing is this: The Heat are willing to trade him — we know that. It’s delivering the Heat what they want, to give Butler away. The Suns don’t have it.”
Windhorst emphasized that the Suns are focusing on acquiring multi-positional players with shorter contracts, as well as young prospects or cap savings, all of which are attractive to the Heat. He concluded, “I promise you the Suns are trying. Will they get it done? I don’t know. They’ve got two weeks — we’ll find out.”
This suspension seems to signal that a trade move is in progress.
